Means for controlling and regulating electric currents



Feb. 6, 1923.

1,444,286. T. L. VAUGHN, JR.

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING AND REGULATING ELECTRIC CURRENTS.

FILED NOV 30, 192].

Tiarnaal. VaqykruJr,

Patented F 6, I

UNITED STATES THOMAS L. VAUGHN, 13., O1 DUNfi, NORTH CAROLINA.

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING. AND REGULATING ELECTRIC OURBENTS.

Application filed November 80, 1921. Serial No. 518,885.

To all whom it may concern: 4

Be it known that THOMAS L. VAUGHN, J r., a citizen of the United States, residin at Dunn, in the county of Harnett and tate 5 of North Carolina, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Controlling and Re ulating gElectric Currents,

of which the fol owing is a specification.

I This invention relates primarily to the and particularly to the'cont'rol and regulation of electric light circuits, whereby the brilliancy of the lights may be regulated at will, and the voltage thereof decreased.

To this end the invention consists in the combination with a switch mechanism, of a transformer of any type, a rheostat, reactance, resistance or impedance, said mechanism, and the transformer, or other referred to instrumentality, being connected up in the light circuit whereby the brilliancy of the illuminant is regulated, and the voltage consumption is governed.

Preferred embodiments of my lnventlon are shown in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which,

Figure 1, is a front elevation of a twolmtton snap-switch to which this invention has been applied, parts being represented diagrammatically.

Figure 2, is a fragmentary sectional view there Figures 3 and 4 are diagrammatic representations of the' circuits of modified forms of the invention; and

figure 5 shows detailed, partially sectioned views of the method of connecting part of the switch operating mechanism.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings I have shown an ordinary two-button snap-switch,

comprising the usual type of porcelain base 10, and buttons 11 and 12, carried on a rocker 13 which actuates the switch blade 14. The button 1 1 controls the off position of the switch and the button 12 the on position. The body of the button 12 is nurled, so that it may be more easily rotated, and is p vided with'a stem. 15 which is pivotally connected adjacent the end of the rocker arm 13, which actuates theswitch blade 14, to open or close the circuit. The pivotal connection is more clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, the outer end of the arm 13 being slotted to receive the reduced portion of the stem 15, the stem being provided with a head control and regulation of electric circuits, iv

15, enlarged'with respect to the reduced portion, and wider than the slot in the arm 13. It will be observed that this construction permits rotation of the button 12, without interfering with its actuation of the arm 13. Any other method of attachment may be used so long as it permits rotation and does not prevent the usual operation of the button 12 in actuating the arm. 13.

Connected to the stem. 15 is an arm 16, carrying a'relatively wide contact 17 at its outer end, and properly insulated therefrom. Positioned beneath the arm 16, and near its free end, is a sector 18, and a plurality of contacts 19, and, when the button 12 is depressed the contact 17 operatively engages the sector 18 and the contact 19.

In Fig. 1 is diagrammatically shown an auto-transformer 20, provided with a plurality of taps connected to the contacts 19. Binding posts 21 and 22 are provided, to which the' ower circuit is connected, and posts 23 an connected. One end of the transformer is connected, by means of conductors 25 and 26, with the posts 21 and 23, and a conductor 27 connects the transformer tap at 28 with. the switch contact 29. A second switch contact 30 is connected with the binding post 22, and a conductor 31 connects the sector 18 with the binding post 24.

It will be understood that I am not limited to the transformer here shown, as any suitable transformer may be advantageously employed, and it may be mounted inside or outside of the switch receptacle, as desired or necessary.

From the foregoing it will be observed that, when the button 12 is depressed, the light will be turned on. The current flows from post 21, through conductor 25, transformer coils 20 to tap 28, conductor 27, switch contact 29, switch blade 14, contact 30, to binding post 22. A circuit is also made from binding post 23, through conductors 26, 25, transformer coils 20, one of contacts 19, contact 17, segment 18 and conductor 31, to post 24. When alternating current is flowing through the transformer 20, the potential supplied at the posts 23 and 24 may be diminished by turning the button 12 clockwise, so as to cut out more and more turns of the transformer windings, or, by a reverse movement of the button 12, the potential may be increased, so

24 to which the lead circuit is that when it is turned to the extreme right, the potential will be greater than the line voltage.

It will be seen therefore that, by combining the instrumentalities above described, when the lights are dimmed the voltage 1s decreased. a

In F i 3 is represented a similar arrangement lli which the auto-transformer 20 is replaced by a transformer 32 having primary and'secondary windings 33 and 34 respec tively.

In Fig. 4, instead of the transformer 20, I

utilize an impedance such as a choke coil 35, or a resistance is substituted and the connections are such that the impedance will be in series with the load-circuit and switch members across the power circuit. The current supplied to the load may be reduced or increased, according to the position of the contact 1'? cutting more or less of the impedance into the circuit.

It will be observed that one of the advantages of my construction, is that its use effects a saving of the electric light bill, which saving would not be possible by the use of a resistance only. A further advantage over'the use of a resistance only, is that the latter will heat up to a considerable extent and endanger the property in which it is installed. By properly proportioning and locating the transformer, or whatever instrumentality is used in combination with the switch, the consumer is enabled to decrease the brilliancy of the lights and economize onthe light expense, and at the same time, not endanger the premises from overheating a mere resistance element to incandescence. The necessary insulation is of course A roperly positioned at all points to insure safety.

My invention is not to be closely confined to the specific disclosures shown in the drawings, but covers all the modifications and embodiments as fall fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a pivoted switch controllin an electric circuit, an operating member t erefor adapted for rotative and lateral movement, and means in the circuit, including a current regulator in engagement with said member, whereby rotative movement of said member will vary the current supplied to the circuit controlled by said switch.

2. Current controlling mechanism comprising a pivoted switch adapted to open and close a circuit, a switch operating member mounted for lateral movement to coni trol said switch, a curved contact in the cirmounted on said member and carrying a' contact adapted to engage said regulator contacts when said switch is closed, and to be moved across them by rotative movement of said member.

4. In combination with a switch for controlling current supplied to a load circuit, operating means for the switch, a transformer connected with the supply mains and load circuit, a plurality of taps from the transformer, and means connected with the switch operating means for making one of the load circuit connections with the taps of the transformer.

5. In combination with a switch, a rotative operating member adapted to be depressed for closing the switch, a transformer connected with the switch, taps from the transformer leading to contacts adjacent to said operating member, and a contact member carried by said operating member adapted to engage one of said contacts when the operating member has been depressed, and adapted to be moved across said contacts when said operating member is rotated.

6. Electric current controlling mechanism comprising a pivoted switch provided with an elongated slot at one end, a switch operating member extending through said slot and adaptedfor lateral movement with respect to the switch to operate the latter, a current regulator in the circuit, an arm fixed to said member and positioned for sliding engagement with said regulator, said member being adapted for rotative movement in said slot to cause said arm to slide over said regulator and to thereby vary the resistance in a circuit controlled by said switch.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

THOMAS L. VAUGHN, JR. 

